European leaders agreed to surge defense spending and voiced near-unanimous support for Ukraine at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, as the continent attempts once again to grasp control of negotiations over the war in Ukraine.

From "watershed moment" to "turning point," there's been no shortage of declarations about the danger from Russia as the US turns on Ukraine and Europe. But did EU leaders rise to the challenge regarding defense?

European leaders backed plans to spend more on defence and continue to stand by Ukraine in a world upended by Donald Trump's reversal of U.S. policies.

Facing the prospect that the United States might cut them adrift under President Donald Trump, European Union leaders launched a day of emergency talks Thursday in a bid to beef up their own security and ensure that Ukraine will still be protected.

The summit follows a fortnight of frantic shuttle diplomacy between Washington, London and Paris by Europe’s most senior leaders, in an attempt to devise a European “peace plan” potentially involving troops on the ground in Ukraine, and to keep Trump engaged in supporting Ukraine and protecting Europe.